The morning after the blacklight rave, Silver Ridge was still buzzing from the aftermath.
The party had been an instant success, but now the pack was paying the price. Some were nursing hangovers, while others looked slightly embarrassed by the mess left behind in the backyard. As we passed through the house, I could hear the whispersâquiet, but intenseâabout our presence and the way we'd flipped the pack's entire dynamic overnight.
We hadn't come to take over, but it sure as hell felt like it.
And no one understood it more than Damon.
I spotted him in the corner of the kitchen, standing with his back straight, his arms crossed as he surveyed the chaos. The tension in the air was thick, like a storm waiting to break. His jaw tightened when his eyes met mine, but he said nothing.
"You still acting like the leader?" Kian's voice broke through the silence, her tone sharp and amused.
I glanced at her, noticing the way she was still standing tall, despite her exhaustion. Her tattooed arms were crossed over her chest, the black ink almost glowing under the kitchen lights. "Always."
She smirked. "Good. Keep showing them who's boss."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not trying to take over. But some of them need a wake-up call."
Nova stepped in from the hallway, shaking her head. "This place needs more than a wake-up call. It needs a reboot."
I laughed lightly, but the truth was, I couldn't have agreed more. Damon's pack was stagnant. Weak.
The wolves here weren't ready for the kind of power we brought. But they'd have to adapt, whether they liked it or not.
As we all stood there in the kitchen, a soft shuffle of footsteps broke the tension. Damon stepped forward, his presence like a dark cloud hanging over the room. His eyes flicked from me to Kian, to Nova, but he couldn't hold my gaze for long.
"Alright, everyone. We have a lot to get done today. The new training schedules are in place, and I expect you all to follow them." Damon's voice was low, but commanding.
I couldn't help but feel the undercurrent of his frustration. This was his pack, his territory, yet everything felt different now. Everything had changed.
"I'm sure the warriors will need some time to recover, Damon," Nova spoke up, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Maybe a nap or two will help them get back on track."
He shot her a hard look, but she didn't back down. Instead, she smirked and walked toward the door, signaling that she'd seen enough.
I caught Damon's eye again, this time not letting go. "You called for help, Damon," I said quietly, my voice more controlled now. "We didn't come here to be under your thumb."
His eyes darkened, but he didn't speak for a moment. The silence between us felt like a challenge, one neither of us was willing to back down from.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice taut. "But remember, Raeâthis is my land. And I'll decide who gets to lead it."
I smiled, but it wasn't friendly. "We'll see about that."
Before Damon could respond, I turned and walked out of the kitchen, Kian and Nova following me closely.
As we stepped outside, the cool air greeted us, and the school day was just beginning.
We made our way to the pack's designated vehicles, ready to head into town. But before we could leave, I felt a strange pull in the airâa ripple of something unfamiliar, something strong.
I turned my head, only to see a new figure standing at the edge of the yard. A tall, well-built guy with a quiet confidence, his dark eyes scanning the area like he already knew what he was walking into.
He was different.
Powerful.